"Spirit King!"
"Yes, Spirit King!"
"Wait, is it really okay to joke about that? If the Spirit Kings find out, won't there be trouble?"
Having regained her strength with Kamito's help, Fianna couldn't help but voice her concern after hearing Altair's words.
"The Five Great Spirit Kings would never grant such a wish. It'd only anger them."
"Fianna, you don't need to worry about that. Lord Altair doesn't need the Spirit Kings." Rinslet reassured her.
"Those five aren't worthy of granting my wishes. I'll achieve them myself." Altair said, his face brimming with disdain. The Spirit Kings, in their attempt to harness otherworldly power, were consumed by it without even realizing. Utterly pathetic.
Initially, Altair had no interest in becoming a Spirit King. He arrived in this world, contracted Est, and planned to leave with her. But after contracting Rinslet and growing fond of her, his plans changed.
Est, as a spirit, could leave with him without issue, but Rinslet was different. As the eldest daughter of a noble family, she was deeply tied to her clan, even holding proxy authority over their northern territories. She couldn't simply follow him.
But Altair had already decided Rinslet was his partner. If she couldn't leave, he'd stay. Of course, his partners in the Danmachi world, Hestia and Haruhime, were waiting, so he couldn't stay permanently. Fortunately, this world could be preserved.
After choosing Rinslet as his partner, Altair checked his system. The Seireitsukai no Blade Dance world was accessed through a Key of the Gate created by the Holy Grail, separating it from the Holy Grail War world. It was an independent instance, like the Campione! world, which Altair could save and exit at any time.
No need to worry about re-entry.
His system was incredible, effortlessly solving the issue of balancing time with his partners.
Altair could spend time in the Danmachi world with Hestia and Haruhime, then visit this world to be with Rinslet.
It gave him the thrilling sensation of hiding a secret partner behind his main ones. Wait, no, Est was his third partner, so Rinslet was the fourth.
Hiding a fourth partner behind his main ones? That felt... intriguing. Exhilarating, even.
It was like sneaking a kiss with Rinslet in front of Est, a heart-pounding thrill of secrecy.
With the ability to return anytime, Altair adjusted his plans. To ensure Rinslet's happiness, he needed a powerful influence in this world. And what was the greatest power here? The Spirit Kings.
Rinslet's Laurenfrost family, one of the empire's four great noble houses, governed the harsh northern territories. Less prosperous than other noble domains, the north's barren lands led others to mock Rinslet as a rustic noble, fueling her devotion to her family's honor.
The Areishia Empire's leadership was riddled with corruption, and its constant wars with other nations were endless. But a Spirit King's intervention could halt conflicts, as they commanded lesser spirits. Without spirits, elementalists were powerless, and in a world where wars hinged on elementalists, that meant everything.
So, Altair decided to become a Spirit King. That way, he could protect Rinslet and her family.
"But if Lord Altair aims to become a Spirit King, the Five Great Spirit Kings would never agree." Fianna said. As a former Fire Elemental Princess, even for just a day, she knew their power intimately. Spirit Kings were quick to anger and fiercely protective of their authority. Any challenge could bring catastrophe.
"Indeed, the Spirit Kings wouldn't allow another to take their place. They're the pinnacle of spirits." Ellis added, agreeing with Fianna. Unfamiliar with Altair's full capabilities, she acknowledged his strength as a high-level humanoid spirit but doubted he could rival a Spirit King.
After all, high-level spirits and the apex Spirit Kings were worlds apart. Having never seen a Spirit King, Ellis only knew they were unmatched. Altair's power was impressive, but in her mind, it fell short of a Spirit King's.
Altair didn't bother addressing Ellis's doubts.
"How do you plan to do it?" Restia, ever by Kamito's side, couldn't stay silent. As a fragment of the Dark Spirit King, she held a grudge against the Five Great Spirit Kings but aimed to free them from the otherworldly darkness. That was Kamito's goal in the last Blade Dance and this one too.
She didn't want to kill the Spirit Kings.
But Altair's ambition to become one demanded her attention. His strength was undeniable, enough to be a Spirit King. She'd returned to Kamito's side partly because of Altair's threat, willing to sacrifice herself for Kamito's safety. Though Altair had been quiet, she never believed he'd do nothing. And now, he'd dropped a bombshell.
He wanted to be a Spirit King.
"Hey, Restia, you're not taking this seriously, are you? That's impossible. It's too outrageous. The Spirit Kings would never allow it." Kamito said, chuckling and shaking his head at Restia's grave expression.
Seeing her concern, Altair smiled.
"Of course, I'm joking."
The group sighed in relief. Becoming a Spirit King was unthinkable, it directly challenged the Five Great Spirit Kings' core interests.
Even Rinslet, who trusted Altair's power, exhaled in relief. The idea was just too far-fetched.
"I just want to use this Blade Dance to grow closer to my dear Rinslet." Altair continued. "I've grown so fond of her care. I can't live without my adorable Rinslet. If I had to name a wish, it'd be for Rinslet to be my partner, forever by my side!"
"Lord Altair... what are you saying in front of everyone!" Rinslet's face flushed crimson, steam practically rising from her head. Altair seized the moment, wrapping his arms around her slender waist, holding her tightly.
"I'm serious, Rinslet. I love you. Be my partner!"
The surrounding girls watched with starry eyes. A romance between an elementalist and her contracted spirit? It was rare in reality, something straight out of novels, and now it was unfolding before them!
"R-really, Lord Altair, this is... too sudden." Rinslet stammered, covering her burning cheeks. She felt the weight of everyone's gazes. Being confessed to so publicly by Altair was mortifyingly thrilling.
"Rinslet, say yes. Be my partner!" Altair pressed, undeterred by the onlookers. He'd won his first partner with a bold street confession, what was there to fear?
Under the girls' intense stares, Rinslet spoke softly.
"Haven't we... already made a contract?"
"Oh! Rinslet, you're saying yes!" Altair's face lit up with joy.
Rinslet shyly tapped his chest.
"Lord Altair, you've... kissed me so many times. We've... I'm a pure maiden, and after everything you've done, what choice do I have? I've been yours for a while!"
Like Claire, who'd declared she could only marry Kamito after he saw her underwear, Rinslet felt bound to Altair after their kisses. Sleeping in his arms every night only cemented that she was his.
Such was the innocent purity of noble maidens!
"Haha, looks like my wish came true today!" Altair laughed, holding Rinslet tightly.
His partner was secured.
The watching girls buzzed with excitement, having witnessed a love story between a spirit and an elementalist.
"Altair." Est said, tugging his arm and speaking softly but firmly. "Est made a contract with Altair. Est kissed Altair. Est is also Altair's."
"Of course, Est is mine too. Est and Rinslet are my most important people!" Altair declared, pulling Est into his embrace alongside Rinslet, holding both girls close.
"Yes, Est is with us!" Rinslet, far from jealous, reached out to hug Est, rubbing her cheek against Est's adorable face. She'd always wanted to cuddle Est, so cute!
One man, two girls, in perfect harmony.
The onlookers' eyes widened. This was a harem, right? Definitely a harem! Their gazes shifted to Kamito, staring intently, making him shiver.
"What? Why's everyone looking at me?"
The girls' attention turned to Kamito, but Restia's grave stare remained fixed on Altair.
Altair, caught up in his joy, flashed her a radiant smile.
A thought struck Restia like lightning.
No! He's not joking! He's serious. He really wants to be a Spirit King.
Indeed, Altair aimed to become a Spirit King. His method? Assassinate one at random and take their place!
***
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